decline and fall of the American "sneaker"
Morgan Burke
starring Robert Redford.
Anyway, here's my problem: I need a good athletic shoe for fencing.
Fencing is typically done on wooden gym floors or metal mesh strips.
Real fencing shoes have shock-absorbing heels whose soles curl back
up the heel, and lightweight, thin foresoles to give a good feel for
the floor. A leather "skid pad" covers the entire inside front of
the shoe, and there is a minimum of tread. A good quality shoe of
this type (eg. from Adidas) runs over $150 in Canada, and must be
custom ordered.
Fortunately, there have always been a number of decent indoor court
shoes that made good substitutes for under $35. Over the years I've
used a very light weight Adidas volleyball shoe and more recently a
great pair of Asics volleyball shoes. Now the Asics are dead, and
I've been shopping around for a replacement, only to discover that the
athletic shoe industry has been taken over by a conspiracy of
basketball-burnout-hip-hop-high-top-neon-polyethylene monstrosities
that look and feel like bread loaves on my feet.
On a recent trip to NYC, I was horrified to discover that you cannot
buy anything except hideously mutated basketball shoes. 6978 different
models of them. Ask for a volleyball shoe, you get a basketball shoe
with acres of foam rubber surging in all directions, threatening to
wrap around the entire shoe and swallow your leg. Monstrous soles
designed to withstand broken glass, discarded needles, and stray
bullets. Ask for something less bulky, you get the same thing with
different colours and an alternate tread pattern. Calling these
things "sneakers" is like calling the Hindenburg a stealth aircraft.
They are a cross between platform shoes, Charles Barkley, and the Alien.
Back in Canada, the Adidas are apparently discontinued, the Asics are
replaced by a larger, bulkier model, and people give me basketball
shoes whenever I ask for a volleyball shoe, so the trend is spreading.
Is there hope for me? Does a slim, lightweight, volleyball shoe still
exist in the Western Hemisphere? Or am I finally going to have to cough
up a lung to order the real thing from Germany?
-- Morgan Burke
mor...@sitka.triumf.ca
toyboy
: In Canada, "Sneakers" is a mediocre movie about computer hackers
: starring Robert Redford.
So do they call them in Canada? One person said they are trainers. Does
the name vary from region to region as it does in the states?
: Anyway, here's my problem: I need a good athletic shoe for fencing.
: Fencing is typically done on wooden gym floors or metal mesh strips.
: Real fencing shoes have shock-absorbing heels whose soles curl back
: up the heel, and lightweight, thin foresoles to give a good feel for
: the floor. A leather "skid pad" covers the entire inside front of
: the shoe, and there is a minimum of tread. A good quality shoe of
: this type (eg. from Adidas) runs over $150 in Canada, and must be
: custom ordered.
Two suggestions:
(a) Contact the companies directly instead of going to a retail store.
(b) Contact a larger retailer.
To help you with these two suggestions, I attach:
(a) A list of sneaker manufacturers and their US and Canadian locations.
(b) A copy of an ad from a larger mail order retailer. (If it is not in
the ad, call.)
One request. Should/When you contact them, please, mention Internet and
alt.clothing.sneakers. I'm hoping to encourage large retailers and
manufacturers to join us on the Internet, to provide online catalogs,
etc. While Converse is the only company I called, I figure if when I call
they have been getting positive mentions that it will help.
TB (toyboy - It is my wife's nickname for me.)
P.S. Please let us/me know how it goes!
Athletic shoe companies listed in the Thomas Register 1993, except for
golf shoes. Note: Keds isn't listed. I wonder why - anyone know its
address/phone number.
Penn Racquet Sports
306 South 45th Avenue
Phoenix, AZ
(Tennis)
LA Gear, Inc.
4221-T Redwood Avenue
Los Angeles, CA
(Athletic & Leisure Footwear, Casual Sports Apparel)
K-Swiss, Inc.
12300-T Montague St.
Pacoima, CA
GSC Athletic Equipment
600-T N. Pacific Ave
P.O. Box 1710
San Pedro, CA
Alden Laboratories, Inc.
5455 Spine Rd., Sutie A
P.O. Box 9012
Boulder, CO 80301
(Sporting Goods & Footwear)
1-800-356-2668
Foot-Tec Industries, Inc.
5854-T Miami Lakeside Dr
Miami Lakes, FL
D & R Industries
7111-T Capitol Dr
Lincolnwood, IL
Dexter Shoe Co.
Railroad Ave
Dexter, ME
Bym-Thing, Inc.
6308-T Blair Hill Lane
Baltimore, MD
(Gymnastic)
New Balance Athletic Shoes, Inc.
38 Everett St
Boston, MA
Etonic, Inc.
147-T Centre St.
Brockton, MA
(Deck, Tennis, Running, Aerobics)
Foot-Joy, Inc.
144-T Field St.
Brockton, MA
(Teniis & Racquetball Shoes)
Sperry Top-Sider, Inc.
5 Cambridge Center
Cambridge, MA
(Anti-Slip Yachting & Tennis Shoes)
Spalding Sports Worldwide
425-T Meadow St.
P.O. Box 901
Chicopee, MA
(Sporting)
Maine Woods, co.
19 Bennett St.
Lynn, MA
(Women's)
Converse, Inc.
1 Fordham Rd.
North Reading, MA
(Leather & Canvas)
Hyde Athletic Industries, Inc.
P.O. Box 5046
Peabody, MA
(Running, Track, Tennis, Soccer, Basketball, Baseball, Football)
Reebok International Ltd
100-T Technology Center Dr.
Stoughton, MA
American Athletic Shoe Co, Inc.
15-T South St.
Ware, MA
(Baseball, Football & Soccer)
Kangaroos, USA, Inc.
1809 Clarkson Rd
Chesterfield, MO
Esses Distributing Co.
1627 Washington Ave.
St. Louis, MO
(All Sports - Most Materials)
Adidas USA, Inc.
15-T Independence Blvd
Warren, NJ
Everlast Sporting Goods Mfg, Co., Inc.
750 E 132nd St.
Bronx, NY
(Boxing)
Endicott Johnson Corp
1100 E. Main St
Endicott, NY
Claiborne, Liz, Inc.
1441 Broadway
New York, NY
Melville Footwear Mfg.
Sping St & River Rd
P.O. Box 477
Wilkeboro, NC
(Cement)
Nike, Inc.
One Bowerman Dr
Beaverton, OR
MSI International
P.O. Box 1396-T
Spring, TX 77383
(Project Management & Development & Product Sales)
713-444-8883
La Crosse Rubber Mills Inc.
1407-T St. Andrew Street
La Crosse, WI
(Tennis)
Weyco Group Inc.
P.O. Box 1188
Milwaukee, WI
Greb, Inc.
6465 Milcreek Dr.
Suite 200
Mississauga, ON Canada
- - - - -
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Basketball Shoes
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Reebok BB 4600 Ultra -- Mid -- Blk Or wht -- Men 37.95
Reebok D-Factor -- Low -- Men -- New Call
Reebok D-Factor -- Mid -- Black -- Men -- News Call
Reebok Blacktop Central Park -- Mid -- Men 55.95
Reebok Blacktop G-Mac Strap -- Mid -- Men 58.95
Reebok Shaq AttaqII -- Mid -- Blk or Wht -- Men Call
Reebok Spector -- Mid -- Black or White -- Men Call
Reebok Crossover -- Mid -- Men Call
Adidas Century II -- Mid -- Black or White -- Men 41.95
Adidas Mutombo -- Mid -- Men 49.95
Adidas Mutombo II -- Mid -- Men 53.95
Adidas Streetball II -- Low -- Men 54.95
Adidas Streetball II -- Mid - Blk or Wht -- Men 58.95
Adidas Equipment -- High -- Men 62.95
Adidas Equipment -- Mid -- Black or White -- Men 59.95
Adidas Equipment Boot -- Mid -- Men 88.95
Adidas Forum -- High - Men 49.95
Adidas Forum Lite -- High -- Men 52.95
Adidas Torsion Response -- Mid -- Black -- Men 46.95
Adidas Torsion Response -- High -- Black -- Men 56.95
Adidas Torsion Artillery Lite -- Mid -- Men 49.95
Adidas Phanton 4 -- Mid -- Men 42.95
Adidas Phanton 4 -- High -- Black or White -- Men 45.95
Asics Gel Sky Zone -- Mid -- Men 64.95
Converse Chuck Taylor:
All Star Ox -- Low -- Black or White -- Men 21.95
All Star -- High -- Black or White -- Men 22.95
Converse Aero Jam -- Mid -- Blk or Wht -- Men 73.95
Converse Zephyr -- Mid -- Black or White -- Men 34.95
Converse Run 'n Slam -- Low -- Men 58.95
Converse Run 'n Slam -- Mid -- Men 62.95
Converse Cons 500 -- Low -- Men 33.95
Converse Cons 500 -- High -- Black or White -- Men 37.95
Converse Accelerator III -- Mid -- Blk or Wht -- M 54.95
Converse Aero-Jet RS2 -- Mid -- Blk or Wht -- Men 66.95
Converse Aero-Jet RS2 -- High -- Black -- Men 66.95
Converse NBA Threat -- Mid -- Blk or Wht -- Men 53.95
Converse Tar Max -- Mid -- Men 48.95
New Balance BB 550 -- High -- Black or White -- Me 39.95
Nike Air Jordan 8 -- High -- Black -- Men 84.95
Nike Air Jordon 9 -- High -- Men -- New 91.95
Nike Court Force -- Mid -- Men 39.95
Nike Air Bound -- Mid -- Black or White -- Men 62.95
Nike Air Force 1 -- Low -- Black or White -- Men 57.95
Nike Air Force 1 -- High -- Black or White -- Men 62.95
Nike Air Force Max CB -- Mid -- Men 99.95
Nike Air Sheer Force -- Mid -- Blk or Wht -- Men 60.95
Nike Air Flight Huarache -- High -- Blk/Wht -- Men 69.95
Nike Air Sonic Flight -- Mid -- Men 49.95
Nike Air Sonic Flight -- High -- Men 52.95
Nike Air Dyamic Flight -- High -- Black -- Men 86.95
Nike Air Raid II -- High -- Men 64.95
Nike Air Radicate -- Mid -- Men 63.95
Nike Driving Force -- Mid -- Blk or Wht -- Men 40.95
Turntec Ultimo -- High -- Men 34.95
Wilson Chairman -- Low -- Men 24.95
Cross Training Shoes
Adidas Torsion CFR -- Low -- Men & Ladies 46.95
Adidas Torsion CFR Hurricane Lite -- Men 54.95
Adidas Power Phas -- High -- Blk or Wht -- Men 39.95
Avia 1382 -- Low -- Men & Ladies 36.95
Avia 1386 -- Mid -- Men 45.95
Avia 1440 -- Mid -- Men 49.95
Converse Vortex ATS -- Mid -- Grey Men 43.95
Diadora CX 7000 or DX 8000 -- Men 44.95
New Balance CXT 775 - B, D, EE & 4E -- Men Call
New Balance CXT 600 -- Men 46.95
Nike Air Carnivore -- Mid -- Men 86.95
Nike Air Cross Trainer -- Low -- Men & Ladies 47.95
Nike Air Trainer Vengeance - Low - Blk or Wht - Me 49.95
Nike Air Trainer Vengeance - Mid -- Men 52.95
Nike Air Trainer Accel -- Low -- Men 59.95
Nike Air Trainer Accel -- Mid -- Men & Ladies 63.95
Puma Disc Cross Trainer -- Blk or Wht -- Men 49.95
Reebok Scrimmage -- Low/Mid -- Blk or Wht -- Men Call
Reebok Satellite -- Low -- Black or White -- Men Call
Reebok Satellite -- Mid -- Men Call
Reebok Exofit Leather -- Low/High -- Blk/Wht -- Me Call
Tennis Shoes
Reebok Club C -- Men & Ladies Call
Adidas Stan Smith -- Men 32.95
Avia 742 Leather - Men & Ladies 29.95
Converse Jack Purcell Classic -- Men 22.95
Diadora Duratech 670 -- Men & Ladies 39.95
Fila Classic Tennis -- Men 48.95
Head Edge Classic -- Men 31.95
Head Radial 500 -- Low Leather -- Men & Ladies 43.95
K-Swiss Classic Leather -- Men & Ladies 39.95
New Balance CT 675 -- B, D, EE, 4E -- Men 49.95
Prince FST Endurance -- Men 48.95
Wilson Pro Staff -- Men & Ladies Call
Running Shoes
Reebok Classic Leather -- Blk/Wht - Men/Ladies Call
Reebok Pyro -- Men & Ladies Call
Adidas Oregon Ultra Tech -- Men & Ladies 45.95
Adidas Torsion Response -- Men & Ladies 54.95
Brooks Hydroflow Chariot HFX -- Men & Ladies 45.95
Brooks Hydroflow Beast -- Men 69.96
Brooks Hydroflow Allegro -- Men & Ladies 47.95
Brooks Hydroflow Addiction -- Men 49.95
Brooks Hydroflow Eldorado -- Men & Ladies 53.95
Etonic Stable Air VO2 -- Men 70.95
Etonic Stable Air 42K -- Men 62.95
New Balance M 676 - B, D, EE & 4E -- Men Call
New Balnace 996 -- Men & Ladies Call
Nike Air Max Leather -- Brown, Blk or Wht -- Men 64.95
Nike Air Pegasus -- Men & Ladies -- New 52.95
Saucony Jazz 3000 or 4000 -- Men & Ladies 49.95
Saucony Grid Control -- Men 61.95
Saucony Grid America -- Men & Ladies 67.95
Saucony Master Control -- Men 46.95
Saucony Bangor -- Men & Ladies 39.95
Saucony Shadow 6000 -- Men & Ladies 57.95
Saucony Procyon -- Men & Ladies 51.95
Turntec Condor -- Men 51.95
Turntec Predator -- Men 37.95
Holabird also has listings for:
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(ii) Nike
(iii) Reebok
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(v) Skechers
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(g) Men's 3-Pack Sock Sale
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Mail or phone -- Ship anywhere charges -- include
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Full line tennis, racquetball & squash raquets, shoes,
bags, etc. Discounted * Free Catalog
Doug White
> Morgan Burke (mor...@sitka.triumf.ca) wrote:
> Anyway, here's my problem: I need a good athletic shoe for fencing.
> Fencing is typically done on wooden gym floors or metal mesh strips.
> Real fencing shoes have shock-absorbing heels whose soles curl back
> up the heel, and lightweight, thin foresoles to give a good feel for
> the floor. A leather "skid pad" covers the entire inside front of
> the shoe, and there is a minimum of tread. A good quality shoe of
> this type (eg. from Adidas) runs over $150 in Canada, and must be
> custom ordered.
I have been using FootJoy raquetball shoes for a number of years. They
hold up quite well, and cost me ~$40 US for the last pair I bought. They
were recommended to me by the MIT women's coach, who said that the vast
majority of MIT fencer's were using them at the time (which was about 6
years ago).
Doug White
MIT Lincoln Laboratory
toyboy
: -BEST SHOES FOR FENCING-
: Of course the best shoes are those which are specifically designed for the job. Adidas and Puma are the only two companies
: I know of who produce this type of shoe, they make both trainers and boots. Unfortunatley they will cost you, especially
: if they have to be imported. In Britain we expect to pay approximately 50 pounds, about $75 and around 100 pounds($150) for
: trainers and boots respectively.
: However any type of trainer can be used as long as it has two important features:
: 1) Wrap around heeL up the back of the shoe, this is so that you do not slip when your heel hits the ground as you lunge.
: Pulled hamstrings are often the result if you end up doing the splits as you lunge.
: 2)Grip continues up the side of the shoe around the front. Many trainers/sneakers have a grip which splays out at the bottom,
: this can be dangerous as it can catch when recovering from a lunge, bad or even broken ankles can result.
: The best type of non-fencing shoe is generally those associated with the sport of squash. You'll also find they are a lot
: cheaper, in the U.K. these cost 20 pounds around $40. The best type I've found are Hi-Tec Squash (basic model).
: I don't know if you can get these over in the States or Canada?
: Lastly many running and basketball trainers are not suitable for fencing. All running shoes I have seen are unsuitable
: and also a number of basketball shoes. Running ones because they have the splayed sole and no rear grip, and basketball
: because the soles are too thick and also no rear grip.
: Get good shoes and get good fencing
: VIVE L'ESCRIME
: Martin Brown (University of Strathclyde, Glasgow, Scotland)
Thanks for the information!
The phone number in the US for Puma is: 800-662-7862
This is from Lefty Redux (le...@apple.com) from his posting on alt.clothing.sneakers
I don't have the phone number for Adidas in the US, but the address is:
from the Thomas Register for 1993:
Adidas USA, Inc.
15-T Independence Blvd
Warren, NJ
This is from the Thomas Register for 1993.
TB (toyboy - It is my wife's nickname for me.)
- Visit alt.clothing.sneakers and then participate.
Barratt - Moy
The phone number for 3 Stripe (all Adidas store/mailorder) is 1-800-345-7951
Hope this helps (as of 1991, Adidas still made fencing shoes)
Barratt Moy
moyb...@egr.msu.edu
Daniel P. Vunck
I have a pair of Adidas fencing shoes (about 3 years old.) The
leather uppers are still in good condition, but the soles have worn
out.
What I am wondering is if there is any way to get new soles for them.
The cost of new fencing shoes is quite high, and hopefuly it will be
cheaper to get this pair repaired.
Thanks in advance.
Dan Vunck
pos...@cabell.vcu.edu
Bruce Micales
>From: pos...@cabell.vcu.edu (Daniel P. Vunck)
>Subject: Re: BEST SHOES FOR FENCING
>Date: Wed, 22 Jun 1994 01:45:33 GMT
>Thanks in advance.
>Dan Vunck
>pos...@cabell.vcu.edu
There is a fellow in Appleton, WI who resoles fencing shoes. He is an
very experienced epee fencer, so he knows what is required for good shoes.
I will try to get his address and post it within the next few days (I think
one of our members has his flyer). I think he charges about $30. I've
never had a pair done, but they look pretty good.
Mary Ellen Curtin
>
>I have a pair of Adidas fencing shoes (about 3 years old.) The
>leather uppers are still in good condition, but the soles have worn
>out.
>
>What I am wondering is if there is any way to get new soles for them.
There was an ad posted in my club last year from someone who offered
to resole fencing shoes for a reasonable charge. I'll see if I can
find it.
Later (to borrow a line from Mr. Mullhaupt),
Dirk Goldgar
internet: <p01...@psilink.com>
postal: 9 Titus Mill Rd., Pennington, NJ 08534, USA